Erm there is no point indebating over who is better or not. I think that we should embrace the fact that African music is moving up. We have appreciated reggae for so long and that same way people embraced that genre you should embrae Afrobeats to and pave the way for new genres. No-one has said afrobeats is better than regage and of course it is an up and coming genre so it'll start of slowly but surely get BIG! There have been numerous festivals and concerts for Afrobeats but instead of being petty and saying it cannot compare to reggae how about coming together as BLACK PEOPLE and embracing what ur fellow brothers and sisters are doing. This is a pure eg. of the ignorant and small mentality some of us blacks have hence the reason we dont go far in life!!.
If we are going to go back to history, Jamaicans all hail from AFRICA1!! therefore if anyone is a thief it is YOUU as patois and the music itself is a mixture of african influences and the language!! We should come together and support each other and stop arguing over whose better than whom

This article reflects the present conspiracy by Jamaican, Black American and the US radio and TV stations to shunt African artists and their evolving music out of mainstream exposure. But it can never repress this bourgroning music from eventually taking the world stage. Instead of sounding so bitter about the increasing popularity of this new brand of music and the African movie industry to several million African music lovers in the motherland as well as their teeming millions in the diaspora, our brothers and sisters from the Jamaica and North America should embrace this additional music and movie entertainment just like Africans in the past had wholeheartedly embraced reggae music. One love to ya all!

Grow up Davina Hamilton,

It sounds ti me like ur intimidated that Afrobeats is moving up.... why compare why not just embrace. Africa as a whoule is uo and coming even Jamaicans love it that was evident at the afro beats festival where Jamaicans and Africans danced in one venue..
We may use ur beat but we do talk in our mother tongue. And if you want to take it to another level then explain why Jamaicans are all flocking to Ghana!!!
9JA Princess....... big up West Africans

Its NOT AFROBEAT!!!! You thieves. Its reggae and dancehall music and the nigerians talk, dj or sing over it.

Its the same thing these nigerians come to the USA and try to do to us black rappers and hiphop masters, first they complain and try to beat us down, and then they use the same rap and hiphop beat to pave their way to fame!

They are all hypocrites. Why not use your own african and nigerian beat? better yet the white men are in africa still looting and theiving everything you've got, why not steal the white man's music or beat rock for example, and give it a name and claim it as your own you weak effers.

What Ive found is that these nigerians can give it but they cannot take back the same heat they pour on us.

Do you see how it upsets now the truth and shoe is on the other foot?

This article is not written fairly... If your gonna write this then have someone from an afrobeat perspective saying their piece...
Afrobeat can't be as big as reggae... As a genre, its still UK its infancy... but its growing...
But why does one have to be bigger than the other?

And don't go on like shabba, shaggy and all them man deh didn't have to do a degree of crossing over to succeed nd be where they are.

Sorry Voice but your writers are leaving a lot to be desired...

A bit disturbed by this article.

What does it achieve?

What's wrong with the growth of Afro Beat?

And who's asking for it to be bigger than Reggae?

In fact why are we comparing it?

What's the point of pitting the two genres against each other?

Especially as a lot of current Afro Beat songs fuse a Reggae/Ragga style into the music!!!

Of course Reggae currently has bigger impact, it's been around a lot longer than Afro Beat.

So what? I really fail to understand the point.
You sound like a child in a playground...why you so vexed that a music style by your fellow black people is on a rise?

Ignorant unnecessary rivalry inducing feature.

The Voice newspaper as a black newspaper that reports on all aspects of our cultures, there's no need for this type of article unless it's to explore a deeper topic or offer more constructive insight.

Ridiculous! Davina Hamilton grow up!

I'm really agitated by this.

http://soul14pages.wordpress.com

Akua Gyamfi, 34,
Journalist, Blogger, Mother, Ghanaian African, Fan of Afro Beats and Reggae/Ragga

If you want to understand how big afrobeats is,go to Africa.
never forget that there are a billion people in Africa and Afro beats is becoming the main music in Africa.do the maths,the world does not begin and end in london,there is a whole world out there.
Dont get me wrong,reggae is big music,in Africa and around the globe(its the original black man music and will always probably be)but dont knock afrobeats ,celebrate it as its another genre of music that all blacks should be proud of.
In Africa,2pac,biggie smalls,jayz,beyonce,sean paul,shaggy,shabba,craig david,mark morrison,soul2soul are all celebrated.
NO HATING,ALL BLACK EVERYTHING.

"Davina Hamilton says Nigerian music has a way to go before it earns the same prominence as Jamaica’s dancehall....."

Yes, because Afrobeat only comes from Nigeria. There are a 54 countries in Africa and because your friend from Nigeria is proud of her own music, well, all music representing the continent, must come from there. What an ill informed and ignorant article.

I really don't see European comparing Irish folk music with Nordic folk music, they simply aren't as divisive.

Has it ever struck your mind that with the world getting smaller and the language barrier, that music from Africa has always been esteemed there but only just heard of here?

Reggae is an excellent music genre, though there are good and bad in everything. Let's not forget that the modern songs with lyrics such as "pump up your pum pum" and the like aren't really contributing any good to our society. Not saying African music does, but please consider all facts, before you tell innocent artists who are making a living in their country to "step back".

It's clear Reggae rules. If we look at what sells more,well, that's too easy so lets let that one go. I mean really, Spanner Banner's greatest hits have probably sold more than the biggest Afrobeat artist.

But lets look at what does better in clubs and at radio. Even if you're not into dancehall/reggae you still know when a big tune hits, as it's all over the radio (Think Every gal- Chipmunk/Mavado). I'm not into Afrobeat and i can't name you one artist or big tune. I'm not into pop either, but i cant still tell you about the new JLS track because it's a big record. Just face it, Reggae rules over Afrobeat.

"Be it music, food, slang or style, Jamaicans are trendsetters - FACT. "

Mon, 2011-08-01 15:24

Reggae belongs to the '70's!
You call Jamaican Pattie food?
Why do you still wear your trouser waist below your butt?
How is pulling one leg of your JD sports track suit bottoms upto your knees
a fashion style?

while you guys are hating and taking side,wiz kid,2face,
psquare,d-banj,shaggy,vybes cartel,sean paul,elephant
man are travelling the world making paper.
sean paul goesto lagos for concerts,dbanj goes to jamaica for concerts,its only london blacks that are in the dark ,the rest of the world has moved on from this rival nonsense.
no wonder black london is a dump.

Wow this is so article is so stupid, dont be mad because afrobeats is taking over

This article is a sad reflection of the state of the Black man. In all that we do we must create or promote division. I have not reaad the initial article which this article seems to be a reaction to, however not withstanding, the fact that we crave and promote differences with our race is a reason why we as a people are at the bottom of the pecking order in the world stage. Instead of constructing differences between african and Caribbean and reggae and afro beats, let's celebrate the similarities and the talent the black man posseses even after years of oppression.

The moral of this story is, If reggae is more popular than afro beats, as an African man, I am still proud, because they are my brothers and sister producing this melodious sounds. I am tired of this unecessary division. We are one.

Be it music, food, slang or style, Jamaicans are trendsetters - FACT. That's why, at one time, so many Africans pretended to be Jamaicans. Just because that tide has now turned and many Nigerians have now learned to be proud of their own heritage, it doesn't mean their music is more popular than reggae. Afrobeat may well be growing in popularity amongst Nigerians, but its relevance on the international landscape cannot compare to reggae's impact. It's stupid to argue otherwise.

HATE MUCH?.. dont blame nigerians for you dying genre!!

This article lacks substance. Are you aware that Jamaicans originated from Africa? The rhythm is black in general and has no base with Nigerians or Jamaicans

Proud, Proud & Proud of your reply regarding Afrobeat, also loved the way you did not disrespect their artist like she did to our, the author made sure she found the worst pictures of Buju and the best of her so called Afrobeat artiest, you showed good pictures of both side.

I also find it hard to understand the author putting down Vybz Kartel for bleaching (which I do not agree with) when Africans are the masters of bleaching.

Weldone great reply, proud of you all.

As we Jamaicans say “one love”

Before writing an article based on any subject matter, I suggest you do more research on the music genre so that your article is filled with the correct information rather than your own biased opinions based on your cultural heritage.

African music and the afro beats play a big part in the music industry in general. House music which is internationally known is heavily influenced by the sounds of afrobeats and african music.

To be honest your article just sounds like a point of view from a stereotypical west indian with negative thoughts about the african culture.